Coming soon: Monster wind turbines
Cadillac News | 02/15/2014 | www.cadillacnews.com
How is it, many ask, that wind developers can make money in places like Rose Lake or Hartwick townships in Osceola County? These are not windy places, but NEXTera is leasing there (and elsewhere).
Now there is an answer: 590-foot tall wind turbines, described by manufacturer GE as “the world’s most efficient high output brilliant wind turbine. The first wind turbine to combine world-class efficiency and power output at low wind speed sites capturing a 25 percent increase in efficiency and 15% increase in power. . . . This high efficiency and high output unlock higher returns for wind farm operators at low wind sites.” http://www.ge-energy.com/products_and_services/products/wind_turbines/ges_2.5_120_wind_turbine.jsp
This “world-class” turbine is almost 60 stories high, and each blade is 192.5 feet long.
The “sound power level” is 106 dB A. Background noise level in rural areas is 30dB A.
These monster turbines are efficient not only because of engineering, but because their height allows them to capture high winds not felt at ground level. This means that in summer, when it is quiet near the ground, but windy far above, the monster turbines are going to be extremely loud, their noise is going to carry a long way, and the low-frequency noise, which is what makes people sick, is going to be more common and occur farther from the turbine.
A recent report noted that the health effects from turbines this large can be felt as far as 10 km (6.2 miles) away. https://www.wind-watch.org/documents/explicit-warning-notice-health-problems-with-large-wind-turbines/
These monster turbines would allow NEXTera to make more energy from Osceola County, and increase profits. A developer, apparently NEXTera, has requested FAA approval for a 72-turbine development in Sanilac County using the monster turbines.
Residents must get involved to stop development.
Victoria L. Brehm
Tustin
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/02/15/coming-soon-monster-wind-turbines/